Thanks for your reply Peter, but I still couldn't get it to work. Here is how I have my settings: In pocket parameters/depth cuts: Max cut .05 # of fin cuts 1 finish step .05 stock to leave .01 Rough and finish parameters/finish: # of passes 1 I have checked "machine finish passes only at final depth. I have checked lead in/lead out and am using a rad only. I also tried using a start and end point with no luck. Does the point have to be on the geometry (pocket wall)? When I did this, it made it impossible to select it to chain it. MC always wanted to select the line, not the point. The only reason I need the finish pass is to ramp off the walls at the end of the cut. What am I doing wrong? Thanks. Thad

"thad what i was talking about is editing the program before posting using Toolpaths,NextMenu,Trim. create a boundry around the area you want to keep. and pick the nci file that you want to tim to the boundry. Woola I don't know how you followed what I wrote before I fix this. " Jay, I *didn't* follow you. I was just going to print it out and try it out when I had a chance. I still have not got to do it yet. Been too busy. Thanks for the help. Thad

What should my settings be in order to ramp off the wall when milling a pocket. Currently, it's only a problem (a) when on the last pass and ( when milling a closed pocket. When cutting an open ended pocket, I select a start point that is off the part. At the end of each pass, it moves to the start point and starts the next pass. But on the last pass, the pocket finishes against the wall, and then drags along the wall on the up feed. If I use the finish pass option in the roughing/finishing parameters page, I see there are options for lead in and lead outs. What should my "finish pass spacing" be in relation to the "number of finish cuts" and "finish step" values in the depth cuts dialog box? Should they be the same? If I'm using the finish pass option, should I NOT be using the finish pass in the depth cuts dialog box? The only reason I'm looking at the depth cuts dialog box, is because of the lead in and out options. I don't need it for the finish pass part of it. Using v7.2c Thad

Jay, That sounds like what I'm looking for. I'll have to play with it. Other than clicking "save" when prompted, I know very little about NCI files or what you can do with them. Ahh, the joys of learning a new system. I got a crash course in MC before my predecessor (sp?) left. No one else in the company knows anything about it. So far, I've been able to figure it out, or I ask you guys. Now that you mention it, I did run across the "Toolpaths,NextMenu,Trim" feature when searching the help file. I guess I just didn't know how to use it. I'll check it out. Thanks. Trevor, thanks for the other option. Thad

Jay, I was looking for something more along the lines of Backplot/Delete/Window and window the part I want to chop out of the program...not physically editing the code. Any such option? Thad

I have an open ended pocket that I have enclosed so I can machine it as a pocket. Then when I remachine it to tighten up the corners, MC wants to remachine the corners in the open end also. Can I edit the toolpath so it doesn't machine in the open corners? I've seen similar edits done with other systems on 3D programs where you can "window in" on an area and chop it off. Because of other circumstances, I can't make the radius' in the open corners a size so that there won't be any stock left in those corners to machine. That was my first thought. Any other ideas? Using v7.2c. Thad

Thanks Roger. It worked like a charm! Thad

We have Okuma and Toshiba mills. When using the post for the Okuma, it generates a pair of files. They are named identically, except one has a .txt extension and one has a .nc extension. The .txt is the one I want. The file size for the .nc files are all 0kb. For example, this would be the result of posting 3 milling programs: 1mill.txt 12kb 1mill.nc 0kb 2mill.txt 35kb 2mill.nc 0kb 3mill.txt 27kb 3mill.nc 0kb What I do is delete the .nc files to get rid of the clutter. When I use the post for the Toshiba, it outputs only one set of files (which is good), but it outputs .nc files. Then I have to rename them with .txt. I'm not sure if I *have to* rename them, but that's how they want to see them. Can I make it output ONLY .txt files for both posts? Is this a setting within Mastercam or within my post? I've already tried changing "sextnc gcd" to "sextnc txt" that was mentioned in another thread, but I still get the 0kb size .nc file along with it. I'm looking to output a single .txt file only. I'm using v7.2c. Thanks in advance for any help. Thad [ 05-28-2002, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: thad ]

Jamman, Agreed, but they didn't have an onsize cutter. Thad

"Version 7 was still a chook, version 8 it is under toolpaths,next menu, circ toolpaths, circmill. Thats why your having problems." Good try Kevin, but that's not it. Circle mill is located where you just said, I just get errors doing it. Oh well, I'm off for the weekend so I'll have to try again on Tues. Thanks you for all your help and have a nice, safe Memorial Day weekend! Thad

Jay, Yes, I've done what they said. The point is the first chain, then the circle. I have use entry point and use exit point selected and I've tried all zeros for the entry and exit moves along with various values. I get the same errors that say to check my radius sizes and entry and exit moves no matter what size line or radius I use. Thad

V7.2c We have v8.1, but I was trained on 7.2 and I'm more concerned with getting work out on the floor than dealing with the v8 "issues" my trainer told me about. For right now, anyway. See "v8 issues" thread for a little more history on this. Perhaps v7.2 is my problem??? Thad

Jack, Could you try that with a .811 dia hole and a 1/2 dia endmill? I did that and got errors. Thanks. Thad

Kevin, The circle mill option seems a little different. Where do you define the tool being used? It cuts the inside of the circle but I see no options for cutter comp. The posted program has no G41 either. Is this something that has to be manually editted? Also, to view the parameters, it points me to an .NCI file. I don't get it. I guess you can tell I'm new at this. Thad

Thanks for the replies. Marc - circle mill doesn't seem to allow cutter comp. Chris and Trevor - you guys kind of had the same response. I still didn't get it to work. I got errors saying to check my radius sizes and entry and exit lines. I selected to use a perp line entry and exit only...no arcs. I'm cutting a .811 dia with a 1/2 end mill. Any more suggestions? Thad

When contouring a circle to finish it's wall, I want to use cutter comp AND start at the circle's center point. Can this be done? I wasn't having any luck with "use entry point." Actually, I would like to start at the center, do a straight move perp to the arc turning comp on, cut the arc, and do a straight move perp to the arc going back to the center point turning comp off. Just like you would program it manually with G code. I realize, ideally, I would ramp on to the arc. In this situation, a perp move on is fine. Because of the way the machine handles cutter comp, I need to start and end at the center of the circle. Thanks. Thad [ 05-23-2002, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: thad ]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply, Jamman. I thought it would be a good idea to search for and answer first before asking a question that may have been just asked last week. Answer #2 - The path that you described doesn't sound familiar, but I may be wrong. Assign tool numbers sequentially *does* sound familiar. Does that have to be checked off each time you start a new file? If so, then that *was* what I was talking about. We do similar operations to every detail, so keeping the originally assigned tool numbers is essential to efficient programming. V7.2 keeps assigned tool numbers regardless and I don't know why they would have changed it in v8. Answer #3 - I don't necessarily need a shortcut to get to where I want to go, I just thought it was very convenient that toolpath is on top of operations, and Xform is on top of translate. If there is a simple fix to modify it, I'm all ears. No, I don't work at NMC...never heard of them. Thad

"You need to load the .nc file, the one that is created when you post (I'd just rename it to .icn to see if it works). You could set mastercam to create the program with a .icn extension if it works." Alan, how do you do this? Here is my similar problem. We have two different posts for two different machines. When using the post for the Okuma, it generates a pair of files. They are named identically, except one has a .txt extension and one has a .nc extension. The .txt is the one I want. The file size for the .nc files are all 0kb. For example, this would be the result of posting 3 milling programs: 1mill.txt 12kb 1mill.nc 0kb 2mill.txt 35kb 2mill.nc 0kb 3mill.txt 27kb 3mill.nc 0kb What I do is delete the .nc files (to get rid of the clutter) and then copy the .txt files over for the shop floor to use. When I use the post for the Toshiba, it outputs only one set of files (which is good), but it outputs .nc files. Then I have to rename them with .txt. I'm not sure if I *have to* rename them, but that's how they want to see them. Can I make it output ONLY .txt files for both posts? Is this a setting within Mastercam or within my post? Thanks in advance for any help. Thad

We have v8.1, but I'm also using v7.2c. The main reason is because the guy who trained me preferred it over v8.1 because of a few items. Right now, I'm in the process of learning the software AND keeping enough work on the floor for 2 shifts, so I think I'll stay with v7.2c for the immediate future. Perhaps I could get these issues addressed and start using v8.1. These issues may seem minor, but they are definate inconveniences. I've only been doing this for just over 2 weeks now, so my lingo may be a little off. I've run manual and CNC machines for 13 years. 1) When I save a file, v7.2c remembers where I saved it last and defaults to that directory. With v8.1, I have to lead it back to that directory EVERY time I want to save. Because of our file structure, it's a real pain. Is there any way to hard code it in to remember the last saved directory? BTW, saving to the default directory and then moving files later is equally a pain. 2) When using the operations library with v7.2c, it automatically keeps the assigned tool numbers to those operations. I understand that with v8.1, there is a setting to be checked to do this. This setting does not stay checked and it has to be done with each and every job. I don't mind checking it if I only have to check it once, but not for every job! How can I keep all assigned tool numbers without checking it every time? 3) This may just sound like bitching, but I like the way v7.2c is set up for the tasks that I perform. 95% of the time, when I hit Xform, I want to hit translate next. It's the same with toolpath, then operations. I like the way those commands are on top of each other, which amounts to a double click. With V8.1, these commands are staggered. It's something that I could probably get used to, but is changing the order of the commands something that I can customize on my PC? 4) I only have a 17" monitor and zooming in and out on a die shoe or big adatpor plate is cumbersome. I'm sure in time, I'll get quicker and more precise with it, but I was toying with the idea of getting a spaceball. I know they are expensive, but I thought maybe an online auction or something since the company won't buy one. As mentioned, I'm using v7.2c and running WinNT (4.0 I think). Will a spaceball be compatible with this setup? Or even with v8.1 if I can work out some of the kinks? 5) We've just done some tweaking to our posts that we use with v7.2c. Can these same posts be used with v8.1? Just for your info, I only do 2D programming. Someone else does the 3D programming on another system. Thad